Posted by admin | Posted in vegetarian | Posted on 18-01-2010
Tags: cooking, food, recipe, recipes, vegetarian
Getting through the holiday season safely, with good health and without a ton of weight gain is a good goal and desire of many people including myself! How do to achieve this goal? First we need to understand a little about what damage they may face.
Many foods are said to be "healthy" and contain an abundance of "antioxidants". Do you know what an antioxidant is and why it is supposed to be good for you? First, an antioxidant is a molecule that stops the oxidation process, which is the chemical reaction can produce free radicals. Free radicals are harmful because they damage cells which can lead to aging, disease, cancer and more. Antioxidants help block the oxidation process that causes free radicals, but not a cure. Foods rich in antioxidants that contain vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and even red wine, have brought health benefits to maintain health and prevent disease such as cancer and heart disease.
So that's what the antioxidants – which help stop free radicals from damaging other cells in your body. How do you get antioxidants to help your overall health? The American Heart Association suggests that people eat a variety of foods from all food staples of the group on a daily basis to cover the same in terms of getting enough anti-oxidants. Some say you should eat from each food group color for Total antioxidant coverage, for example:
- Orange – sweet potato, squash and apricots – beta carotene
- Red – Wine – flavonoids
- C Green – vegetables – broccoli – vitamin
- Brown – walnuts and almonds – Vitamin E
Some of the foods richest in antioxidants to eat include:
- Fruits and berries – including acai, blueberries, strawberries, pomegranates, grapes, kiwi and pineapple.
- Vegetables – including peppers, artichoke, broccolo, pumpkin, spinach and beetroot
- Dried fruits like apricots, prunes and dates
- Legumes and grains – including soy and pinto beans
- Nuts like walnuts, almonds, walnuts and sunflower seeds
- Cereals and grains – Including barley, oats and maize
- Spices such as cloves, cinnamon and oregano
- Green tea
- Red
- Dark chocolate
There are many antioxidants, with different degrees of strength that contain different minerals and properties as EGCG, catechin, flavonoids and polyphenols. Each plays a role in seeking health benefits. Researchers believe that flavonoids that contain a substance called resveratrol has promising benefits health. Resveratrol found in grapes and red wine. In addition to their heart health benefits it is claimed to have anti-aging and weight loss benefits as well … all of which can serve you well during the holiday season!
A team of dietitians from the USDA released a study in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry and the list of the top 20 antioxidant-rich foods. Note that the best antioxidant foods contain vibrant colors, as mentioned above. After examining more than 100 different foods from most oxidants are determined to be (in order according to the antioxidants that foods containing – highest to lowest):
1. Small red beans (dry)
2. Blueberries (wild)
3. Red beans
4. Pinto beans
5. Blueberries (cultivated)
6. Cranberries
7. Artichokes (cooked)
8. Blackberries
9. Prunes
10. Raspberries
11. Strawberries
12. Red Delicious Apples
13. Granny Smith apples
14. Pecans
15. Sweet cherries
16. Black Plums
17. Russet potatoes (cooked)
18. Black Beans (dry)
19. Plums
20. Gala
All antioxidant resveratrol seems to be gaining notice, the reason is its wide variety of health benefits. Lindsay Brown, associate professor in the School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, noted: "The extent of the benefit is remarkable – Cancer prevention, protection of the heart and brain damage, reducing age-related diseases such as inflammation, reverse diabetes and obesity, and many more. "
Resveratrol comes from the skins of grapes used to make red wine. Since red wine is fermented more the white, red wine, so it contains more resveratrol. Alcohol of course, should always be done in moderation, (limited to two rows of 4 daily) so before reaching a martini, cosmopolitan or some other fancy cocktail party in this year's holiday has a heart healthy glass of red wine.
The benefits of resveratrol have been reported in 60 minutes, Dr. Oz, Oprah and numerous news programs. This compound is not surprising, said to extend life span, living healthy / disease free existence, promote weight loss, and prevent cancer.
Top 10 benefits of resveratrol is reported to include:
- Increases the levels of antioxidants
- Prevents heart disease
- Increases fat burning and metabolic rate
- Helps prevent the risk of stroke
- Strengthens the brain cell degeneration
- Avoid all types of carcinogens
- Scavenges free radicals and dangerous toxins from the body of
- Prevents the effect of radiation on the body
- Good source of cholesterol
- Strengthens the natural energy
While drinking red wine and foods rich in antioxidants may be a way to get these benefits healthy heart during the busy holiday season, sometimes you just have no time to prepare these healthy choices, while you are moving. You may want to take a closer look at supplements that contain antioxidant compounds, such as the Acai berry, coenzyme Q10 and resveratrol. Try href = "http://www.reversetage.com/"> ReversetAge.
Jennifer Hughs is the pen name for the health and lifestyles writer who is compensated by Value Marketing, Inc. d/b/a Lab88. The author has 20+ years in the cosmetic and health industries and has worked with leading beauty and health publications.
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